A Writer's Take on Global and National Issues with Background Information and Humor As Needed

Imagine Not Even Being An Age Group Sought for Ratings

Posted on November 14, 2010

Hey, John Lennon would have to “imagine” one more thing were he here today: he would not be in an age group sought after for ratings statistics for television viewing and perhaps other things as well. Of course, it’s hard to imagine John Lennon even watching TV.

This was Conan O’Brien’s first week back on TV and here is how his ratings were announced:

So how is ‘Conan’ doing in the ratings?

It has been a good first week so far for “Conan.”

According to TBS, Conan O’Brien’s new late-night talk show averaged 1.5 million adults in the 18-34 demographic and nearly 2.2 million adults between the ages of 18 and 49 for the week. Overall, the average for the week was 2.9 million viewers. [CNN Entertainment]

The statisticians must think the over 50s are in bed well before late night TV swings into action. Don’t they read all of those articles about older people not needing as much sleep? Have they never heard of getting up in the middle of the night to raid the refrigerator and then sitting down to watch a little TV? We older types are so on top of things, we should be the ones working at NORAD to warn the western world of the next major military attack. This is SamHenry and SamHenry barks.

Oh, and the stats for many of the blogs suggest that the over 50s crowd are the ones keeping up on the internet as well. Is anyone out there listening? Time for the afternoon nap. No one will notice.

When those hunger pangs hit, they hit, and TV must now accommodate those late night viewers. Remember the days when they’d do the Pledge, then maybe a mini-sermon or a hymn or something religious ,then go to snow for the rest of the night until at least 6 AM?

Then came the infomercial.

Who do they think watches those doggone things and orders all those snappy products? Goodness, I miss Billy Mays!

But they don’t think the over 50s are worth catering to? Can you say stupid?

On a side note, one time a couple of years ago, when Darc and I were wandering around a pretty empty grocery store, a Beatles song came on. He quipped to me, “I wonder if John still thinks he’s ‘more popular than Jesus.'”

On the other side of the aisle hidden from our view, I heard a snort and then a chuckle. 🙂